---
title: West Tennessee — Memphis (Rating Area 6)
url: https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/rating-area-6
description: Rating Area 6 covers Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton counties. How Memphis-area plans and prices work, plus in-person enrollment help.
last_verified: 2026-10-17
publisher: TN Health Coverage Explained (independent; does not sell insurance)
---

# West Tennessee — Memphis (Rating Area 6)

**Above the fold:** Your county decides your rating area, and your rating area decides which plans and prices you see on HealthCare.gov. Rating Area 6 covers the **Memphis metro and its surrounding counties** — five counties total. Insurers file their 2027 plans and prices separately for each rating area, so the Memphis lineup is its own market, priced for its own provider costs.

> ⚠️ **Availability warning:** Five insurers are approved to sell 2027 marketplace plans somewhere in Tennessee (BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Celtic/Ambetter, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, Alliant), but the **per-area 2027 carrier lineup is still being confirmed** via HealthCare.gov window shopping. Do not assume which insurers are selling in your county this year — window-shop your ZIP code before enrolling. This page will be updated when the lineup is confirmed.

## Counties covered

Rating Area 6 includes Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton counties.

See the full 95-county index: [Tennessee Counties & Rating Areas](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/counties#rating-area-6)

## Population center and market dynamics

**Population center: Memphis (Shelby County)** — the state's largest city and the anchor of this rating area.

*The following describes general market dynamics in this part of Tennessee, not carrier assignments for 2027:*

- **Metro markets usually have the most choice.** Tennessee's large metros tend to draw the most insurers, which typically means more plans to compare and more price competition. The rural counties in this area (Haywood, Lauderdale) may still see thinner lineups than Shelby County itself.
- **Networks still matter here.** Even with more choice, Memphis is a system-heavy market — check that your hospital system and specialists are in-network on the specific plan you're considering, not just "in-network with the insurer generally." Plan networks differ plan to plan.
- **Commute-county note.** If you live in Fayette or Tipton and work in Memphis, check whether your regular providers fall inside a plan's network — some networks are tighter than others around the metro's edges.

## Local enrollment help

- **GetCoveredTenn** (Navigator program): **1-866-475-7879**. In-person help is available in **Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton counties**; **Haywood and Lauderdale counties are phone/virtual only**.
- **HealthCare.gov**: 1-800-318-2596.

Navigator help is free, and nobody is paid on commission.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which insurers sell 2027 plans in Rating Area 6?

Statewide, five insurers are approved to sell 2027 marketplace plans in Tennessee: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Celtic/Ambetter, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, and Alliant. The per-area lineup — who's actually selling in *your* county — is still being confirmed via HealthCare.gov window shopping. Enter your ZIP code on HealthCare.gov to see exactly what's available to you; this page will be updated when the lineup is confirmed.

### Do prices in the Memphis area differ from neighboring areas?

They can. Insurers file prices per rating area, so a plan's price here doesn't have to match the same insurer's price in the rural northwest or the Jackson area. The differences reflect each area's provider costs and insurer mix.

### I'm moving within Tennessee — what changes?

A move across county lines can put you in a different rating area, which changes the plans and prices available to you. Moving triggers a special enrollment period: report the move to HealthCare.gov and shop your new ZIP code. If you're moving between, say, Shelby County and a rural county in the area, confirm your doctors are in-network under your new plan.

### Where can I get in-person enrollment help?

GetCoveredTenn offers in-person help in Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton counties — call **1-866-475-7879** to find a site. If you're in Haywood or Lauderdale county, help is available by phone and virtually through the same number.

### When can I enroll for 2027?

Open enrollment runs **November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027**. Enroll by **December 15, 2026** for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Outside open enrollment, you can only enroll if you qualify for a special enrollment period (job loss, move, marriage, birth of a child, and similar life events).

## Sources

- CMS Geographic Rating Areas documentation
- Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (2027 marketplace insurer filings)
- CMS Navigator award summaries (GetCoveredTenn)

## Keep reading

- [Health Insurance by Region](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/regions) — Tennessee's regions explained
- [Tennessee Counties & Rating Areas](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/counties) — the full 95-county index
- [The Marketplace](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/marketplace) — how the federal marketplace works in Tennessee
- [The Tennessee Enrollment Calendar](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/enrollment-calendar) — key dates and deadlines
- [Health Insurance in Memphis & West Tennessee](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/memphis) — Memphis-area health insurance guide